Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-02-12

was s%clf-evident to most Of the passengers.
u suppose his authority is as absolute on this
drcary waste as a ship captains in mid
ocean," exclaimed Thatcher to the baleful-
eyed stranger. Mr.. Wilcs-whom tho reader
has recognizcd-assentcd with tho public side
Of his face, but looked Vengeance at Yuba
Dill with tho other, while Thatcher, Innocent
of the presence Of one Of his worst enemies,
placated Bill so Tar as to restore Wilcs to his
rights. Wiles thanked him. saSball I have
the pleasure of your company fart" Wles
asked, insinuatingly. ITO Washington" re-
Piled Thutchcr, frankly. "Washington is a
gay city during tho session." again suggested
tho stranger. I'm going on business, sud
Thatcher, bluntly.
A triiling incident occurred at Pine Tree
Crossing which did not heighten Yuba Bills
admiration of tho stranger. A Bill opened
tho double locked box in tho aboot" Of tho
c~oach-sacrcd to Wells, Fargo & Co.'s express
AMI the Overland %colnpany's trcasures-Er.
Wilos perceived a small, black morocco porte
malteau among tho parcels. "Ah, you carry
baggage there, tool" he said, sweetly. ..Not
often" responded Yuba Bill, shortly. aAh,
this then contains v%aluablesi" ut belongs to
that man whose scat you've got" said .Yuba
Bill, who, for insulting purposes Of his own,
preferred to establish the fiction that Wilos
was an interlopcr, land ct he reckons, in .
sorter mixed kempeny like this, to lock up
bis %portnantlc, I don't know who's business
it is. WhoT continued Bill, lashing himself
into q simulated rage, awho IL blank Is run
ming this yer teami 11eyi Mebbe you think,
sittin' up thar on tho box seat, you arc.
Mebbe you think you kin see round corners
with that thar eye and kin pull up for teams
round corners on down grades a mile aheadr
But here Thatcher, who, with solnothing Of
Laucelot's concern for 'Modred, had q noble
pity for all in1rmities, interfered 50 sternly
that Yuba Bill stopped.
On the fourth dizzy they struck a. linding
snow storm while ascending the dreary pla-
teau that henceforward for COO miles was to
be their roadbed. The horses, after founder
ing through h edrift, gave out completely on
reaching the next station and the prospects
ahead, to al but the experienced eye, looked
doubtful A few passengers advised taking
to slelges, others a postponement Of tho jour-
ney until tho weather changed. Yuba Bill
alono was for pressing forward as they wore.
1.-TWO miles more and wore on the high
grade, whar the wind Is strong enough to
blow you through the windy and jist peart
enough to pack away over thom cliffs every
inch Of snow that falls. III jist skirmish
round In and out o. them drifts on these four
wheels whar ye can't drag ono o them Cat
botto,ned dry goods boxes through a DRIFT !"
Bill had o California whips contempt for a
sledgc. But he was warmly seconded by
Thatchcr, who had tho next best thing to ex-
periencc, the instinct TINT taught him to read
character, and take advantage Of another
mans experience. "Them that, wants to stop
kin do 50" sud Bill authoritatively, cutting
the Gordian knot; "them as wants to tako a
sledge can do SO, thar's ono in the barn.
Them US wants t 60 on with me and the
relny will come on" Mi. Wilcs selected the
sledge aud a driver, a few remained for the
next stage, and Thatcher, with two Others,
decided to accompany Yuba Dill. These
changes took up some valuable time; and the
storm continuing, tho stage was run under
tho shed. tho passengers gathering around the
station fire; and not until after midnight did
Yuba Bill put in tho relays. II wish you a
good journey" said Wiles, ns he drove from
tho shed US Bill entered. Bill vouchsated NO
reply, but, addressing himself to the driver,
said CURLY, as if giving On order for tho de.
livery Of goods, "Shovc him out at Rawlings
and passed contemptuously around to tho tail
board Of tho sled, and returned to the harness
ing Of his relay.
The moon came out and shone higha as Yubs
Bill once moro took the reins In his hands
Tho wind, which instantly attacked them a
they reached the level, seemed to make thu
drivers theory plausible, and for half a mile
the road bed was swept clean, and frczer
hard. Further o. q tongue Of. snow, extend
ing from o bowlder to the right, reached
across their path to the height Of two Or thre,
feet. But Yuba Bill dashed through a par
Of it, nnd Ivy skillful m~aneuvering cirru,n
vented the rest. But even as the obstacle
was passed., tho coach dropped with q,